Hannibal eice



(No Model.)

H. RICE.

TRUNK CLAMP.

No. 341,604. Patented May 11, 1886.

Jnvenior Rice Jfann ibdZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I HANNIBAL RICE, OF AURORA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF TWVO-THIRDS TOFREDERICK REICHER'I AND FREDERICK THOMS, OF SAME PLACE.

TRUNK-CLAN] P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 341,604, dated May 11,1886.

Application fied February 527, 1886. Serial No. 193,499. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANNIBAL RICE, of Aurora, Dearborn county, Indiana,have invented a new and useful TrunkClamp, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to an adjustable lid, clamp, or cover and brace,for the interiors of trunks, packing-cases, and other receptaclesemployed for transportation of wearing-apparel, dry-goods, samples, theThe said clamp has hooked catches capable of engagement in racks, whichare fastened in a vertical position to two opposite inner walls of thetrunk or other receptacle. A strap, being engaged to one end of suchclamp, and being passed around a sheave or roller on the adjacent rack,and then drawn up through the passage between the rack and thetrunk-wall, operates to compress and hold the contents with greater orless stress, at will of the operator, the neighboring spring-catch socoacting with its rack as to securely retain the said clamp to whateverposition it may have been thus drawn by said strap. Perforate lugs orflanges, that extend horizontally from the lower ends of said racks,

. being screwed or bolted to the trunk-floor, op-

erate both to fasten said racks in position and to strengthen theconnection between the ends and bottom of the trunk. The hooked form ofthe catches coacts with the racks to oppose outthrust of the trunk ends,and said clampin addition to its function of retaining the contentsimmovablyin place,however much orlittle goods there may be in the box ortrunkfurther serves as an effectual brace or support for the trunk-wallsagainst crushing forces which would be liable to stave in the sides orends of the receptacle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalsection of a travelers trunk or chest provided with one of my clamps.Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of such trunk: before insertionof the clamp. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of such trunk with itsclamp in position.

A may represent any customary chest, packing-case, travelers trunk, orlike receptacle B B are racks, which have orifices b, to receive thehooked catches, to be presently described. Perforate lugs I) at the topof said racks receive screws 0, to attach said racks in the representedvertical position to the inner walls of the trunk-ends. Perforate lugsb, that extend horizontally from the lower ends of the racks, receivescrews C, for attachment to the trunk-floor. By this an rangement theracks serve as re-enforces both to the ends and floor, and strengthenthe connection of these parts to one another. One of the racks has tworidges, b, along its face, which ridges flare outward at their upperends. These ridges, beside serving to stiffen the rack, operate asguides to the springcatch, about to be described, in the operation ofengagement.

D represents an open-work frame, preferably composed of slats of hardwood screwed. together in form of a lattice. The dimensions of saidframe (called by me the clamp) are such as to cause it to fit looselywithin the trunk. Screwed to one end of the clamp Disa hook, E, which iscapable of engagement in any selected orifice of the rack B. Screwed tothe other end of the clamp D is a springcatch, F, also of hooked form,and having a customary knob or handle, G, for optional retraction, whendesired, to disengage it from its rack.

H is a sheave or roller, which is jonrnaled in the lower part of therack B. An eye, J, that extends downward from that end of the clampwhich bears the spring-catch E, receives a clip or snap, K, on one endof a strap, L, whose other end, having been rove around the sheave H, ispassed up through the passage 1), between the rack B and the trunk end.

While the hooked form of the catches E and E opposes any burstingtendencies in a crowded trunk, it also makes impossible any accidentaldisengagement of the catches.

My said clamp, although chiefly designed for, and here shown inconnection with, a travelors trunk, is applicable to a great variety ofreceptacles-such, for example, as laundry baskets, sample cases, boxes,and buckets.

, I claim as new and of my invention-- 1. The combination, with a trunkor other receptacle having perforate racks B B at its 4. Thecombination, with the clamp D, the spring-catch F, and the rack 13 androller H, I 5 of the strap L, having the snap K, as and for the purposeset forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

HANNIBAL men Attest:

G-Eo. H. KNIGHT, EREDRIOK THoRNE.

